The use of hybrid pH-sensitive micelles mainly based on the PEO129-P2VP43-PCL17 ABC miktoarm star copolymer as potential triggered drug delivery systems has been investigated. Co-micellization of this ... [more ▼]

The use of hybrid pH-sensitive micelles mainly based on the PEO129-P2VP43-PCL17 ABC miktoarm star copolymer as potential triggered drug delivery systems has been investigated. Co-micellization of this star copolymer with a second copolymer labeled by a targeting ligand, i.e. biotin, on the pH sensitive block (poly-2-vinylpyridine, P2VP) has been considered here in order to impart possible active targeting of the tumor cells. Two architectures have been studied for these labeled copolymers, i.e. a miktoarm star or a linear ABC terpolymer and the respective hybrid micelles have been compared in terms of cytotoxicity (cells viability) and cellular uptake (by using fluorescent dye loaded micelles). Finally, the triggered drug release in the cytosol of tumor cells was investigated by studying on one hand the lysosomal integrity after internalization and on the other hand the release profile in function of the pH. [less ▲]

Evaluation of the biocompatibility of pH-triggered targeting micelles was performed with the goal of studying the effect of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) coating on micelle stealth properties. Upon ... [more ▼]

Evaluation of the biocompatibility of pH-triggered targeting micelles was performed with the goal of studying the effect of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) coating on micelle stealth properties. Upon protonation under acidic conditions, pH-sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) blocks were stretched, exhibiting positive charges at the periphery of the micelles as well as being a model targeting unit. The polymer micelles were based on two different macromolecular architectures, an ABC miktoarm star terpolymer and an ABC linear triblock copolymer, which combined three different polymer blocks, i.e. hydrophobic poly(E-caprolactone), PEO and P2VP. Neutral polymer micelles were formed at physiological pH. These systems were tested for their ability to avoid macrophage uptake, their complement activation and their pharmacological behavior after systemic injection in mice, as a function of their conformation (neutral or protonated). After protonation, complement activation and macrophage uptake were up to twofold higher than for neutral systems. By contrast, when P2VP blocks and the targeting unit were buried by the PEO shell at physiological pH, micelle stealth properties were improved, allowing their future systemic injection with an expected long circulation in blood. Smart systems responsive to pH were thus developed which therefore hold great promise for targeted drug delivery to an acidic tumoral environment. [less ▲]